Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a mother. My older sister and I used to play "doctor" and we would take turns putting a doll under our shirt and the other would pretend to be the doctor who helped deliver the baby. I always wanted to be a young mother, but I never dreamed it would become a reality. I was in my 4th year of college studying subjects I wasn't passionate about when I unexpectedly got pregnant with my daughter. Things didn't work out between her father and I and I made the decision to be a single mother and raise my daughter on my own with the help and support of my family.
My pregnancy was life-changing in every way possible. I learned a lot about myself and the power of my mind and body and I watched how my body held and nurtured the little person within me without any special instruction. To this day I am still amazed by what women's bodies are capable of. I educated myself and my mom who was my birth partner through it all and took my childbirth education classes at BINI Birth, and read tons of books that helped me stay positive and confident about what was about to happen. I caught myself constantly talking about birth and babies every chance I got with whomever would engage in the conversation with me. The idea of natural birth seemed right for me and my baby, but I couldn't afford a doula at the time (or so I thought-THERE IS A DOULA FOR EVERY WOMAN) but my mother who took all of my class with me acted as my doula during my labor and birth of my daughter. Having someone there, specifically a woman who I knew and trusted, to hold my hand and remind me of all the goals I had for my birth was so empowering and magical. I could not have asked for a better birth.
After the birth of my daughter I was still having baby and birth word vomit and I realized that I could not sit back and let the knowledge I had found be lost. I had to share it, especially with women who may or may not have a partner, access to resources or the support they need and crave for their personal birth plans. The idea of becoming a doula-a non-medical birth professional who provides physical comfort and emotional support for women in labor-made me excited and sparked a fire within me, something no subject in college ever did. I immediately contacted Ana Paula Markel at BINI Birth and asked her how I could get started.
In May 2012 I completed my DONA Birth Doula training and I am now taking births on a sliding scales depending on the needs and budget of the expectant family. I am currently trying to build my experience one birth at a time and extending my services to expecting women, families, and couples, who seek continuous labor support in order to create a less stressful, more satisfying birth experience.
You can contact me at:
danellia@OMmamabirth.com
(323) 712-2714
OMmamabirth.com
